The National Festival of Polish Song (KFPP) in Opole has for decades been not only a celebration of native music but also a prestigious proving ground for cutting-edge stage technologies. The 63rd edition of this historic event marked an unprecedented qualitative leap in visual engineering.
The phenomenal, highly dynamic lighting concept that captivated audiences in the amphitheater and in front of their TVs was the responsibility of an outstanding lighting design duo: Marcin Michna and Zbigniew Feliksiak. The complex installation and equipment delivery rested on the shoulders of the professional TRANSCOLOR crew – an absolute leader in the Polish rental market. The key element of this technological puzzle, introduced to the market by Prolight, was an impressive fleet of 82 state-of-the-art ROBE GigaPointe fixtures. But that's not all! In such an advanced setup, the top-class front lighting (key light) was handled by powerful heavy artillery – iFORTE and iFORTE LTX fixtures, seamlessly integrated with the RoboSpot follow spot system.
The fundamental element that determined the visual grandeur of the 63rd KFPP was the uncompromising use of ROBE GigaPointe fixtures. They are the direct successor to the legendary MegaPointe model and introduce the industry to the era of laser technology.
The heart of the GigaPointe optical system is the innovative LSW-3™ (White Laser Phosphor engine) with a power of just 350 W. The light generation process involves passing a coherent beam from blue laser diodes through a spinning phosphor wheel. This results in a powerful, homogenized, and completely safe (photobiologically) white light with a native color temperature of 7000K.
The advantage of this solution over traditional discharge lamps is colossal: a staggering illuminance exceeding 4,000,000 lux at a distance of 5 meters was achieved, while simultaneously reducing total power consumption from 670 W to a mere 500 W. For the TRANSCOLOR crew, this meant massive savings of nearly 14 kW in installed power.
To illustrate this unprecedented technological leap, we compare the key parameters below:
| Technical parameter | MegaPointe® (predecessor) | GigaPointe® (new generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Light source | HRI 470W discharge lamp | LSW-3™ 350W Laser-Phosphor engine |
| Illuminance (Peak) | 2,000,000 lx @ 5 m | > 4,000,000 lx @ 5 m |
| Power consumption | 670 W | 500 W |
| Color mixing | CMY | CMY + Virtual CTO (2700K - 7000K) |
| Color management | 13 dichroic filters | 13 filters + DataSwatch™ library |
| Ingress protection | IP20 (indoor) | IP65 (RAINS™ system) |
Physical power is the foundation, but the true strength of the GigaPointe lies in its innovative SpektraBeam™ effects system and the MLP™ (Multi-Level Prisms) module. The architecture, consisting of six overlapping prisms, allowed the designers (Michna & Feliksiak) to generate incredible geometric structures and "flower" effects that literally expanded the space of the amphitheater.
Live outdoor television production forgives no mistakes. Using IP65-rated devices is an absolute requirement today. However, the ROBE GigaPointe raises the bar even further by implementing the RAINS™ (Robe Automatic Ingress Neutralization System). This module continuously monitors humidity, temperature, and pressure inside the moving head, automatically removing moisture and preventing condensation on the optics.
The devices also utilize AERIS™ technology, which sterilizes and mechanically filters circulating air, protecting the lenses from sticky residue deposits, while the output lens is coated with a hydrophobic parCoat™ protective layer.
The requirements of public television's 4K/UHD cameras also forced the elimination of the slightest flicker. The use of advanced Cpulse™ technology guaranteed absolutely flicker-free operation of the LED and laser drivers, which directly translated into a crystal-clear, stable image.
While 82 GigaPointe fixtures created spectacular mid-air effects sweeping through the space, it was the heavy artillery that was responsible for the precise television exposure of the artists. The so-called key light function was entrusted to giants supplied by TRANSCOLOR: the large-format iFORTE fixtures and their specialized long-throw variant – iFORTE LTX.
The architecture of the iFORTE model is based on an exceptionally bright iSE-TE™ (White XP LED TRANSFERABLE ENGINE) module with a massive power of 1000 W. The ability to mechanically replace this engine eliminates the problem of color consistency loss over the years, making it a fantastic investment for rental companies.
In turn, the iFORTE LTX version can generate a phenomenal luminous flux of up to 55,000 lumens. In the vast Opole amphitheater, the Long-Throw function based on XRLE™ (XR Light Enhancer) technology proved crucial. It narrows the natural zoom range to an extreme angle of 0.7° to 2.0°, compressing photons and physically boosting the illuminance to an astronomical 410,000 lux! This generated striking columns of sharp light, precisely cutting the performers out from the large, bright background of LED screens.
Even the best key light fixture requires precise tracking of a dynamic artist. The solution is the revolutionary RoboSpot™ system.
This system eliminates the need to send operators to dangerous heights on roof structures. The operator, sitting comfortably behind the stage, controlled the motorized iFORTE heads using an HD touch screen and two manipulation arms. Full HD cameras mounted directly on the fixtures allowed for precise and instant tracking of the vocalists. Crucially for the entire design, a single RoboSpot station can simultaneously manage several networked heads, perfectly illuminating the artist's face from multiple directions without generating harsh shadows.
This year's Song Festival in Opole is proof that Polish television productions belong to the absolute top tier in Europe. The combination of the lighting directors' vision, the reliability and vast resources of TRANSCOLOR, distribution support from Prolight, and breakthrough laser technology from ROBE resulted in a spectacle that will be remembered for a long time. The audience received not only excellent music but, above all, a ruthlessly precise festival show, stunning in its architecture of the sharpest light. We are proud that ROBE equipment is setting new milestones in the Polish lighting industry!
